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“And you are? Once you’ve had your fun, you’ll go back to your rich and famous lifestyle and dump Cerys,” says Craig, pushing Liam away.
“You’re worried about the opposite, Craig. You think Liam will replace you.” I retort.
Craig snorts. “Jesus, Cerys, I’m not as delusional as you. Don’t you see? This would never work. Sure, you might move away and be with him a while, but he’ll drop you like a hot brick when he realises a single mother isn’t worth the hassle. I’m trying to protect her from that.”
His words are rewarded with a shove in his chest as Liam smacks him against the wall again. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Oh, right? So you’ll to marry an average, single woman with a kid and live happily ever after in your Hollywood mansion?” says Craig with a laugh.
“Yeah, actually, I will. I’ll marry Cerys so she’ll never be hurt by narcissistic bastards like you again. I’ll take care of Ella and teach her respect and love, not about what money can buy.” Liam’s hands bite into Craig’s shoulders “I’ll be in Ella’s life but on her terms. She won’t belong to me and neither will Cerys. Nobody owns another person and nobody buys love and affection. Believe me, I fucking know.”
My head spins further. Why is he telling Craig we’re getting married? “Liam, please.”
“Let me put this simply. You give us Ella’s passport and we take her home or my lawyers will stitch you up so badly you’ll never see your daughter again,” Liam says in a low voice.
“You can’t do that!” Craig says but doubt edges his tone.
Liam holds him tighter. “Try me.”
The quiet of the street outside returns as we wait for the next move in this crazy cat and mouse game. Craig sidesteps Liam who moves to stop him approaching the room Ella is in.
“I’m doing what you’ve asked,” mutters Craig. “Her passport.”
Liam watches Craig warily as he rummages through a black rucksack in the kitchen then turns to say something to me. Taking advantage of his distraction, Craig launches himself at Liam. “Fuck you!” yells Craig.
Liam ducks the punch that follows and hesitates for a second before striking out at Craig, fist colliding with his face. Craig steadies himself on the table, and wipes a hand across his nose, smearing blood onto his cheek.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t hurt you even though that’s all I’ve pictured doing for the last two weeks. No, for the last twomonths. Thanks for the excuse,” Liam says, moving toward him again.
“Liam!” I grab his arm. “Stop! You can’t do this.”
Liam shrugs my arm off and grabs Craig by the shirt.
“An assault charge against you would be perfect for me,” says Craig, with a taunting grin. “Keep going.”
Liam doesn’t need asking twice and Craig is rewarded with another smack in the face. Craig attempts to tackle Liam to the floor and fails; Liam shoves him and Craig lands on his back.
I’m too shocked to talk as the surreality of the situation grows by the minute. I have to stay in control a while longer, for Ella.
Ella.
Trembling, I turn to the doorway and she’s there, clutching her familiar, raggedy blanket to her face, big brown eyes wider than usual as she watches Craig and Liam.
“Liam! Stop!” I shout. “Think about Ella.”
I hate Craig more now than at any point since I met him. Ella will always remember this: her own fear, the anger, and upset in the room, and the uncertainty over her future. When I walk out of the door with Ella, whatever we leave behind, something else will come with us. In two short weeks, Craig has broken part of Ella’s childhood by subjecting her to this and the memories will stay with her forever.
I bundle Ella into the bedroom, away from the two men and close the door. I pray Liam sees sense and doesn’t pummel Craig but the shouting continues. Ella’s half-packed bag rests on the bed but I can’t finish packing right now. I pull her to me and curl up on the bed, wishing I could protect her from everything going on around us. She snuggles into me and to my relief she doesn’t cry.
“Will Liam take us home?” she asks in a small voice.
I stroke her tangled hair. “I think Liam will do anything for us.”
Liam spent two weeks suffering through this alongside me, and I finally understand it wasn’t only because of me. He genuinely cares about Ella, and has ever since they connected at Christmas. Liam is as big a part of Ella’s life as he is mine—he loves Ella in a selfless, protective way as if she were his daughter. By denying this, I said the worst thing I possibly could in the car outside.
